discount
Latest
Xbox Live discounts Child of Light, Thief this week
Microsoft's Deals with Gold discounts Thief by 40 percent ($35.99) on Xbox One this week. Additionally, both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members can enjoy discounts on Assassin's Creed 4 add-ons on both Xbox One and Xbox 360, getting the game's season pass, Blackbeard's Wrath, Guild of Rogues, Freedom Cry and Illustrious Pirates DLC for 30 percent off each. As for the Xbox 360-specific deals, Gold subscribers can pick up Child of Light at 33 percent off this week ($10.04) as well as Flashback and Cloudberry Kingdom for 67 percent off ($3.29 each). Four games are slashed by 75 percent this week: I Am Alive, From Dust and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger are $3.74 each while Freefall Racers is $2.49. Lastly, both Gold and Silver subscribers can pick up Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 at 67 percent off ($19.79) as well as its World Challenge DLC at half-off ($2.49). All deals are good through next Monday, July 7. [Image: Square Enix]
Guild Wars 2 is half price before Season 2
There's not long to go until Guild Wars 2 starts up its second season of story updates, which you can hear about at length by asking almost any Guild Wars 2 fan. Want to jump in on the ground floor? You can do so at a discount until June 29th. The game is being sold at a 50% discount; that's $25 for the regular edition and $35 for the deluxe edition. Already an owner of the game? Well, then, there's not much for you, except for these two ominous sounds that have appeared on the game's website to forecast what comes next, which is something. But let's face it, if you're a fan you're already looking forward to the next season, you don't need the extra encouragement.
Vudu makes it a little easier to buy your TV shows by the episode
If you're really dedicated to a la carte TV, then maybe separating by channel isn't enough and it's time to buy only the shows or episodes of shows you really want. The only problem with that? On some services, if you buy a few episodes and then decide to grab the entire season later, that means paying twice for the same shows, but Vudu has added a fix, which it's pitching directly towards cord-cutters. In addition to the Season Pass that lets users buy shows as they're airing on TV, now there are options for Season Complete and Season Upgrade. Complete means just paying the price for the season, minus the price of the episodes you've already purchased, while Upgrade lets you jump from a low-res standard definition copy to HD (720p) or HDX (1080p) by again just paying the difference in price. The iTunes store added a "Complete My Season" option to its TV store back in 2011, but it still isn't there for stores like Amazon and Google Play. Vudu is available on many more devices than Apple's digital store, so if you're building out your TV library episode by episode and season by season, now there's one more option.
NBA 2K14, Call of Duty: Ghosts haunt this week's Xbox Live Gold deals
This week's Deals with Gold discounts two Xbox One games, NBA 2K14 and Call of Duty: Ghosts. 2K Sports' basketball sim is 33 percent off on Xbox One and half-off on Xbox 360 for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The game's My Player jewelry and Spanish commentary add-ons are also half-off this week. Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Ghosts is 17 percent off on Xbox One and 33 percent off on Xbox 360 this week, whereas the game's Hardened Edition is 20 percent off for Xbox One. As for the other discounts for Xbox 360 owners this week, players can pick up Far Cry Classic, Far Cry3: Blood Dragon and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for 67 percent off each. Additionally, Namco Bandai-published XBLA games Storm and Skydrift are half-off while Invincible Tiger is 66 percent off. Other discounted Games on Demand include Rayman Legends (60 percent off), Smurfs 2 (67 percent off) and Saints Row 4 (60 percent off). The deals are good through Monday, June 9. [Image: 2K Sports]
Microsoft slashes Surface Pro 2 prices by up to £150
Microsoft might be gearing up for the launch of its bigger, better Surface 3 tablet, but it still hopes to shift some older slates in the interim, with help from an enticing discount. In the biggest price cut we can remember since Surface RT received similar treatment, all configurations of Surface Pro 2 are now available through Microsoft's UK store for £140 or £150 off their normal cost. This means you can grab the base 64GB model for £569 (down from £719), up to the top-of-the-line 512GB unit for £1289 (reduced from £1439). Alright, so they're still not the most wallet-friendly tablets around, but if you want full-fat Windows 8.1 on a 10.6-inch slate, then at least these ones are cheaper than they were last week.
New Windows 8.1 version is cheaper for device makers, with a catch
Microsoft has just announced Windows 8.1 with Bing, confirming rumors about a lower-cost Windows version for OEM manufacturers only. As suspected, Redmond is attempting to recoup the lost revenue with ads by forcing suppliers to keep Internet Explorer with Bing search as the default browser. However, end-users will be able to change those settings so that Microsoft won't arouse the wrath of European regulators (again). Rumblings about a discounted version of Windows 8.1 began cropping up earlier in the year, and Microsoft recently announced that Windows Phone 8.1 would be free for 9-inch or smaller devices. Other than the Bing and IE defaults, the new OS is reportedly identical to the standard version of Windows 8.1. However, the OEM cost will reportedly drop from $50 to $15, so don't be surprised to see a new crop of cheaper Windows devices arriving soon.
Fist of Awesome punches bears on PC and Mac
The game best described as a "bear fighter," Fist of Awesome, is now available on PC and Mac. The game is currently discounted on the Humble Store to $3.99 (originally $7.99). Fist of Awesome is a beat-em-up in which players assume the role of a time-traveling lumberjack that must "punch bears to save humanity." Developer I Fight Bears is seeking community approval via Greenlight to bring the game to Steam. It launched on Ouya, iOS and Android in October following a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised £11,808 ($19,919) in December 2012. The UK-based developer was founded by Nicoll Hunt, a former Realtime Worlds (Crackdown) developer that also worked on Hard Lines for iOS. [Image: I Fight Bears]
EverQuest II's dino-tastic expansion pack is still in the works
EverQuest II folks, fret not, for SOE has not abandoned you for shiny new sandboxes. The recent producer's letter mentions several projects that the team is working hard on, the biggest of which is the upcoming unnamed expansion pack. "We are working on a variety of themes again, one of them we have hinted at with dinosaur-like creatures," the letter teases. SOE goes on to say that expansion previews will be happening soon, and come June there will be a "Gear Up, Level Up" promotion aimed at preparing the playerbase for the release. All players will receive bonuses that month, although All Access players will get the better end of it. It also looks as though there will be an expansion discount for those who pre-order in June. The team is also working to improve its matchmaking code, add a new Tunaria PvP warzone, create a Fabled Deathtoll dungeon zone, and toss in dressable NPC mannequins for housing.
EVE Fanfest 2015 dated, tix discounted for limited time
EVE Fanfest 2014 is still a recent and warm (if scandal-ridden) memory, but CCP is already looking ahead to next year. The studio opened the doors today for fans to pick up tickets to next year's convention. EVE Fanfest 2015 is scheduled for March 19th through the 21st, 2015, at the same place it's been in Reykjavik, Iceland. The studio says that in keeping with the space-themed MMO, there will be an observable solar eclipse during the event. CCP is offering several tiers of early discounts, starting with the current early bird limited special offer. While the regular price for the tickets will be $200, players can pick theirs up right now for $125 or 13 PLEX apiece.
Battleblock Theater bundled with Castle Crashers for Steam launch
The Behemoth launched party platformer Battleblock Theater on Steam today, and is offering some special discounts and bundles to celebrate. For starters, those that don't already own Battleblock Theater and the developer's popular beat-em-up Castle Crashers on Steam can download both games for $22.49, or receive Battleblock Theater on the cheap with a loyalty discount for already owning Castle Crashers. If that isn't enough savings for you, Battleblock Theater is 10 percent off ($13.49) its standard $15 price tag for its first week on Steam. Those that own both games also have access to special unlockable content thanks to the "Can't Stop Crying Pack." The Castle Crashers knight opens up to Battleblock Theater players, whereas the latter game's character Hatty joins the pillaging crew in the beat-em-up game, bringing a golden whale orb and gem sword for the ride. Each discount is good until Thursday, May 22. [Image: The Behemoth]
Star Trek Online selling ships at a discount
It's a boring weekend, a sedate weekend, a weekend in which you're just not sure what you want to do. You could go cruising around in Star Trek Online, but you don't want to do it your busted old ship that looks as close to an El Camino as a futuristic warship capable of moving faster than the speed of light is capable of looking. No, you want a new ride. Fortunately for you, getting a new ride is fairly easy this weekend, as the game is having a sale on all ships until 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 12th. A 20% discount has been applied across the board to everything other than the new Patrol Escort Refit, giving plenty of incentive to pick up some new refits and new ships if you've got money to burn.
Kentucky Route Zero Act 3 out now, season pass 25% off
Chicago-based developer Cardboard Computer has launched the latest installment for its mysterious adventure game, Kentucky Route Zero. The latest episode is the third act of five, the final two of which are expected to arrive "throughout the next year or so," according to the game's site. Season passes for the game are currently 25 percent off ($18.74) through Steam and the Humble widget on Cardboard Computer's site, and will stay discounted until Tuesday, May 13. Described as a "a magical realist adventure game," Kentucky Route Zero follows the people that travel a "secret highway in the caves beneath Kentucky." The first episode launched in January 2013, one month before its arrival on Steam, followed by Act 2 in late May 2013. Cardboard Computer originally anticipated a three-month span between each episode, previously pegging its finale for January of this year. The developer earned $8,583 on Kickstarter in February 2011 to fund the game. [Image: Cardboard Computer]
Amazon discounts Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite e-readers by $20
Here's comes the second significant price drop to grace our pages today: Amazon has taken a $20 chunk out of the price of its Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite e-readers, meaning you can get them for as little as $49 or $99 respectively. As with similar discounts in the past, this new pricing won't last forever -- it's presumably timed to attract shoppers looking for Mother's Day gifts. (What? You hadn't forgotten, had you?)
Lyft drops ride rates in response to Uber, plans to expand locations
Lyft's taking a tried-and-true approach in an attempt to pirate Uber/Sidecar/other ride-sharing regulars: it's lowering fares everywhere it's available. The company's offering rides for 20 percent less than usual (mirroring Uber's price cuts earlier this year), all thanks to the $250 million funding it secured last week. Apparently, all that money enables the company to forego charging its standard commission rate -- for now, at least -- in an effort to attract new customers. Lyft's not going to spend every cent it got on this particular project, though: it also plans to use the money to expand to more locations in the future. The service with a penchant for fluffy pink mustaches didn't mention how long this promo will last, but anyone interested in a nice discount (and who isn't?) should check the adjusted fares on the company's website. [Image credit: Sergio Ruiz/Flickr]
T-Mobile's latest UnCarrier move: removing employer discounts (update: existing customers keep theirs)
Over the past year, T-Mobile's new policies have ushered in a new wave of changes to the way the US wireless industry works. It was the first national operator to introduce phone-financing plans, early upgrades and free international roaming; additionally, it also offers to pay your cancellation fee if you break another carrier's contract to move over. It appears that such practices must come at a cost: CEO John Legere announced that beginning April 1st, T-Mobile will no longer offer its Advantage Program, which features monthly employer rate plan discounts, to new customers. Existing beneficiaries will see the deduction removed from their accounts on April 25th. As a consolation, affected subscribers will now receive a $25 reward card every time they get a new phone. Update (4/2): According to Legere and CMO Mike Sievert, T-Mobile has listened to its customers, and will let current users keep their discounts. More details are apparently coming tomorrow, but the new plan will only apply to new customers. Update (4/3): The updated blog post is now available, and confirms that anyone in it, or who applied before April 1st will keep their discounts, however customers will need to verify their employment annually. Going forward however, the plan will work as described, with new customers under those plans getting a $25 reward card when they buy a phone.
Spotify now offers US college students half-price music streaming (updated)
Don't think you can afford a paid streaming music service as a cost-sensitive student? Think again -- the price may finally be within your reach. Spotify has launched a US student program that lets you pay just $5 per month for Premium access (half of the usual price) as long as you're attending a post-secondary school that qualifies for federal aid, whether it's a college or a vocational outlet. Be sure to time your registration well, though. Much like an equivalent offer in the UK, you'll only get the discount for a year. Still, the $60 you spend may be worthwhile if it gives you enough studying music to get through a couple of tough semesters. Update: Helpful reader will noticed that the discount merely lasts for a year at a time -- you can renew it three more times before you're paying full price. In other words, it should cover your entire degree.
Xbox One bundle price drops to $399 on Amazon (update: back to $450)
We're not sure if this is a real price drop or a retailer error, but CheapAssGamer.com points out that the Xbox One is currently available on Amazon for $399 -- the same price as a PlayStation 4, but obviously with the Kinect camera and a game packed-in. The Xbox One Standard Edition (with the Forza Motorsport 5 digital code) is currently listed for $450, but adding the discount code XIAMAZON -- first seen last week as retailers cut prices on the Titanfall bundle to $450 -- takes an additional $50 off of the price. Of course, this means you don't get the console's most anticipated game as a part of the deal, but at this price we doubt many will complain. It's earlier than an anticipated and if it's an error (of course, Amazon is starting a videogame Gold Box deal today...) then we don't know how long it will last, but tell us -- if they're the same price which would you choose, an Xbox One or PS4? Update: It looks like it was an error, as the bundle's price has jumped back to $499, which comes down to $450 with the discount code. It was good while it lasted, but we guess Microsoft isn't quite ready to make that level of sacrifice to catch the PS4 in sales.
Sony discounts Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes on UK PSN
Brits who have yet to pick up Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes may suddenly find the admittedly short game more attractive thanks to an unexpected PlayStation Network price cut. Originally, the digital incarnation of Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes featured a £29.99 price tag, identical to the price attached to the physical, retail version of the game. Currently however, the game is marked at £24.99, making the digital game the more attractive offer for those who don't mind a lack of packaging materials. Unfortunately for Xbox One owners, this discount is Sony's doing, so the digital version of Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes found on the Xbox One remains at £29.99. Now, the question becomes whether Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is worth that discounted price point. In our review Ludwig praised almost every aspect of the game, but decried its brevity. "Too good to be a cash-in, too calculated to be satisfying and too intriguing to spurn, Ground Zeroes is a fiscal test of patience," he wrote. [Image: Konami]
Xbox Live weekly deals include Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4
This week's deals on Xbox Live include one game on Xbox One and eight on Xbox 360 for Gold subscribers. The lone discounted game on the Xbox Games Store through March 10 is Call of Duty: Ghosts, as the standard version is 33 percent off ($39.99/£36.79/46.99 euros) and the Hardened Edition is 10 percent off ($89.99/£80.99/107.99 euros). Call of Duty: Ghosts is also 33 percent off ($40.19/£33.49/46.89 euros) for Xbox 360 owners this week, and is joined by Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on the Games on Demand channel, one-third its usual price as well ($40.19/£36.84/46.89 euros). Three more games are 75 percent off on Xbox 360: I Am Alive ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros), Scott Pilgrim vs The World ($2.49/£1.68/2.37 euros) and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger ($3.74/£2.49/3.59 euros). Two more are 67 percent off this week, Galaga Legions DX and Bang Bang Racing ($3.29/£2.22/3.13 euros each). Lastly, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is half-off ($7.49/£4.99/7.19 euros) on XBLA. [Image: Activision]
Hide your wallet: Steam developers can set up their own sales
Steamworks developers now have the option to set up their own sales, and they can opt into Steam weeklong deals at discount percentages of their choosing. Valve announced the new sale system in the private Steamworks Development forum, as spotted by Reddit user Sharkiller. According to Valve: "With new Steamworks tools, you can configure your own discounts for custom sale periods or opt in to take part in upcoming weeklong sales. Once configured, the discounts will automatically start at the time specified." Developers can book weeklong or custom sales up to two months ahead of time, and custom sales can run for up to two weeks. Valve launched Greenlight in 2012 to deal with the influx of indie (and larger) games vying for spots on Steam, and it started Steam Early Access in 2013, allowing developers to sell beta and alpha versions of their games, a la Kickstarter. Steam is at the heart of the indie PC bubble, and developers fear that the service could become overpopulated soon. Retro City Rampage developer Brian Provinciano explains how gaming's deep-discount culture can have a negative impact on indies: "The big challenge we now face is saturation, quality and protecting platforms from the race to the bottom, which happened to mobile. It's been a bit concerning to see that this most recent Steam Holiday Sale saw developers doing deeper discounts than last year, no doubt in an effort to try and rise in the charts against the ever-increasing competition. However, it's a very slippery slope, and if this continues, it will once again become less viable to be indie." For now, consider putting your wallet in the freezer. For your own sake. [Image: Sharkiller]
